preston



2 S'heetsShet 1. J. PRESTON.

CONVERTIBLE GHAIR.

(No Model.)

No. 326,241. Patented Sept. 15,- 1885.

IN VEN TOR.

WITNESSES.

N. PETERS. Phato-Uhqznpher, Wuhinginn, D. C.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. PRESTON.

CONVERTIBLE uHAI-R. No, 326,241. Patented Sept. 15, 1885.

WITNESSES. IJV'V'EJV'TOR.

N. Psvzns, Halo-Lithographer. Wnhluginn. n1;

7 UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFICE/'7.

JOHN PRESTON, or INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

CONVERTIBLE CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 326,241, dated September 15, 1885.

Application filed October 28, 1884. (No model.)

To an whom iz may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN PREsToN, of the city of Indianapolis, county of Marion, and State of Indiana, have'invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination- Ohairs, of which the following is a specification. i

The object of my said invention is to provide a chaircapable of being transformed into a variety ofpositions,whereby the functions of various kinds of chairs and a cradle will be combined in the same structure. I accomplish this object by providing a frame composed of two semicircular side pieces connected by cross-bars or rungs, and mounting in said frame an adjustable seat and back or cradlebody, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

Referring to .the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure l is a perspective view of one of my improved chairs adjusted for use as a common arm chair; Fig. 2, a central vertical section of the same; Fig. 3, a similar view of the same when adjusted for use as a recliningchair; Fig. 4, a central vertical section of the chair, the frame being inverted and the seat and back being adjusted therein in position for use as a rocking-chair; Fig. 5, a similar view showing the position of the seat and back when adjusted for use as a cradle; Fig. 6, a view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating an alternate construction of the catches for holding the back of the chair in position; Fig. 7, a detail sectional view looking downwardly from the dotted line 2 z in Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 a similar view looking to the right from the dotted line 3/ y in Fig. r

In said drawings, the portions marked A represent the combined side pieces and rockers of my improved chair; B, the seat of the chair; 0, the back; D,hinges by which the seat and back are connected, and E the notched bearing-plates used instead of the rods in the alternate construction.

The side pieces, A, are substantially semicircular and of sufficient size to be of the nec essary strength. In manufacturing I find that sections of buggy-wheel rims or fellies properly dressed answer the purpose admirably, the outside faces being preferably covered with a thin piece of brass'or other metal, a

where they come in contact with the floor when used as a rocker or cradle. Brace-rods a extend across from one end to'the other of each side piece, and thus prevent them from spreading or getting out of shape. They are connected and secured together by rungs a. a? a a and bolts or rods A A A A A which extend across near said rungs, and also form catches, with which rack-bars on the chair back and seat engage'in their various adjustments, as W111 be presently more fully de scribed. I

The seat B is of an ordinary construction,as shown, and may be upholstered in any manner desired. Rack-bars b are secured on the under side of the side pieces,near their front ends, which engage with the rods A or A in the different adjustments of the chair, and thus hold said seat in proper position. The side pieces of the seat are hinged to the side pieces of the back by the hinges Din such a manner that they are adapted to be adjusted at nearly right angles with each other when it'is desired to sit uprightly, or nearly in line with each other when it is desired to use the chair for reclining purposes.

The back 0 is also of any suitable construction, that shown and deemed preferable consisting of side pieces connected by rungs or cross-bars, and upholstered in a suitable manner, corresponding in construction to the seat. It is provided with catches 0 and rack-bars c on the rear side of its side pieces. The catches a are secured thereon a short distance from the point where it is hinged to the'seat, and are adapted to engage with the rod A when the chair is adjusted to be used as areclining or easy chair, and thus support the back and through it the rear part of the-seat, which is hinged thereto. The rack-bars c are secured near the top of said side pieces, and are adapt-- ed to engage with the rod A when the chair is adjusted for use as a rocking-chair, and thus support said back and seat, as do the catches when in the other position. -The hinges'l) join the back and seat, as before described, andfbeingordinary hinges, need no special description. 1 Y

My invention is operated as follows: To adjust the chair into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the catches c on the back of the side of the chair, which slides the seat forward,

- pieces bears -on the floor.

the rack bar catching as each notch passes over the rod and preventing it from sliding back. When it is desired to readjust the chair to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the front edge of the seat is raised slightly to disengage the rack-bar from the rod, when the seat can be readily pushed back into the desired position, and the rack-bar again dropped into'engagement with the rod and secured in position. \Vhen it is desired to change from this position to a rocker, the seat and back are lifted out of the frame composed of the side pieces, A, and con necting-rungs, and said frame is inverted, so that the curved portion of the side The seat and back are then replacedv therein, the rack-bars b of the seat engaging with the rod A, usually in the notch nearest its outer end, and the rackbars 0 of the back engaging with the rod A, which two parts,being connected by the hinge D, as before described, are thus secured in position. The seat being made heavier than the back keeps the chair properly balanced, as will be readily understood. The height of v the seat may be adjusted to suit by raising or lowering the back by means of the rack-bars c and rod A. When it is desired ,to change to a cradle, the back and seat are lifted out, turned around, and the back laid in the bottom of the frame, the rack-bars c engaging with the rod A and the rack-bars b of the seat engaging with the rod A, the back of the chair thus forming the bottom of the cradle, the seat its top, and the brace-rods a the sides. Instead of the back and seat of the chair,an appropriately-formed basket may be set into the frame to form the cradle.

When it is desired to have a chair capable of being reversed, as in railway-coaches, &c., the rung a and rod-:A are placed in the same position on their side of the frame as the rung a androd A, and is thus adapted to support the front of the seat B when turned around in the same manner as before described, the back of the chair being supported by notched bearing-plates E at the proper point on the side pieces, A,fwith which catches E in the sides of the chair-back engage, as illustrated in Figs. 6, 7, and 8.

. I am aware that chairs of different kinds have been constructed and mounted on frames composed of curved side pieces connected by rungs, the ends of said side pieces serving as the legs and resting up an the floor; but I am not aware that a frame and chair seat and back have ever been arranged so that the single article of furniture could be utilized for the various purposes as the chair herein described and claim ed.

Having thus fully described my said invention, whatI claim as new, and desire tojsecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, in a chair, of the back and seat hinged together and provided with catches on their under and rear sides adapted to engage with rods in a frame-work, said frame-work consisting of curved or semicircular side pieces connected with rungs and rods, said rods being adapted to engage with the catches on the chair back and seat and support the same both when said frame-work rests upon the ends of the curved side pieces, or when it rests upon the curved surface thereof, whereby said chair is adapted to be used in a variety of positions, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the frame consisting of the semicircular side pieces, A, secured together by rungs, and the rods A A A A, arranged at appropriate points to support a chair back .and seat in various positions, the seat B, and back 0, said seat and back being hinged together,said seat being provided with rack-bars b, which engage with said rods, and said back being also provided with rack-bars,

, which engage with said rods, whereby a chair is provided capable of a variety of adjustments, substantially as set forth.

1 3. The combination easy, reclining, and rocking chair and cradle, consisting of a frame composed of curved side pieces secured together by rungs and rods, and an adjustable chair back and seat provided with catches adapted to engage with the rods of said frame when said frame is either side up, whereby the functions of the various articles are combined in one piece of furniture, substantially as set forth.

4. In a combination-chair, the combination of the frame consisting of semicircular side pieces connected by rungs, and having rods extending across from one side piece to the other at appropriate points to support the back and seat in various positions, and said backand seat hinged together and mounted between said side pieces, the under side of the seat and rear side of the back being provided with catches adapted to engage with said rods,

whereby said back and seat are secured in position, substantially as set forth.

, In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 22d day of October, A; D. 1884.

JOHN PRESTON. n 8.]

In presence of O. BRADFORD, Y CHAS. L. THURBER. 

